Injury Type: Serious laceration of arm Core Activity: Commercial refrigeration or commercial air conditioning work Location: Lower Mainland Date of Incident: 2015-Nov ID Number: 2015147280109 A worker was using a freshly sharpened chisel-edged scraping tool (a hand tool) to remove caulking from a refrigeration panel that was being prepared for installation. The tool contacted the…
Read MoreRelease for consultation of proposed amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation
WorkSafeBCs Board of Directors has approved the release for consultation of proposed amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. The consultation phase provides stakeholders an opportunity to provide feedback prior to the proposed amendments being taken to public hearing in 2016. The proposed regulatory amendment packages under review are: Section 4.43.1, General Conditions, new…
Read MoreView from the Board: What to expect from an inspection?
Journal of Commerce ~ Dec 3, 2015 ~ by DAVE BASPALY A WorkSafeBC occupational safety/hygiene officer has the right to inspect your worksite at any reasonable time. The officer does not give advance notice of his visit. He or she may be coming as part of a planned inspection. An officer may be there as a…
Read MoreB.C. Workplace Safety Agency Doubles Number of Fines for Infractions
BY GORDON HOEKSTRA, VANCOUVER SUN DECEMBER 7, 2015 WorkSafeBC has handed out nearly double the amount of fines for industry safety infractions this year and 2014 over the previous two years, part of a new approach to use penalties as deterrents. In 2014, 433 penalties were issued totalling…
Read MoreMOSAIC of BC – Free English for the Construction Trades course
Are you or do you know a new Immigrant looking to improve their job prospects in the Construction Sector? MOSAIC Language Centre is offering a FREE program that will provide workers with English for Construction. REGISTER TODAY because seats are limited. When: November 9, 2015 to March 17, 2016 (with a winter break). Intake until January 06,…
Read MoreOctober 2015 Work Related Incidents Reported to WorkSafeBC
Injury Type: Penetrating injury to arm Core Activity: Framing or residential forming Location: Lower Mainland Date of Incident: 2015-Oct ID Number: 2015173250287 As a worker was climbing a stepladder with a pneumatic nailer, it discharged two nails into the worker’s arm. Injury Type: Partial amputation of finger Core Activity: Structural concrete forming Location: Lower Mainland…
Read MoreOctober 28 Guideline Updates
Many sections of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation and Workers Compensation Act (“Act“) have associated guidelines. Guidelines are intended to assist with providing ways of complying with the legislation, not to provide exclusive interpretations. Guidelines generally provide information on administrative matters and on technical matters not already addressed by policy. Periodically, guidelines are updated…
Read MoreWorkSafeBC Board of Directors Approves Plantar Fasciitis Policy
On October 22, 2015, the Board of Directors approved the addition of policy item #27.36, Plantar Fasciitis, and an amendment to policy item #27.30, ASTDs Recognized by Regulation, of the Rehabilitation Services & Claims Manual, Volume II. The new policy and the policy amendment come into effect on December 1, 2015, and apply to all decisions made…
Read MoreUpdate on Bill 35, the Workers Compensation Amendment Act, 2015
On Tuesday November 3, 2015, Bill 35 passed second reading in the Legislature. Committee debate commenced on Wednesday November 4, 2015 and was completed November 5th, 2015. Bill 35 also passed third reading November 5th, 2015, with an amendment to the Bill that was introduced by the Opposition Critic during committee debate and approved by…
Read MoreLMAPR and OHS Citations policy
On October 22, 2015, the Board of Directors (BOD) approved the Lower Maximum Administrative Penalties Regulation (LMAPR) and Item D12-196.1-1, Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) Citations, of the Prevention Manual. The LMAPR and OHS Citations policy set out that WorkSafeBC may impose an OHS Citation on an employer for failure to comply with an order,…
Read MoreChanges regarding Employer Incident Investigations
At its meeting on October 22, 2015, the Board of Directors approved the following as a result of changes to the Workers Compensation Act regarding employers reports of accidents or incident investigations: The deletion of section 3.4 from the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Regulation, B.C. Reg. 296/97 The consequential amendment to section 24.34 of…
Read MoreAugust & September 2015 Work Related Incidents Reported to WorkSafeBC
Injury Type: Fractured leg Core Activity: Structural concrete forming Location: Lower Mainland Date of Incident: 2015-Sep ID Number: 2015156680091 A carpenter was stripping a concrete wall gang form at a residential highrise building. As he disassembled the attached work platform, he fell off the form, landing on the concrete floor about 2 metres below. Injury…
Read MoreSeptember 22 Guideline Updates
Many sections of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation and Workers Compensation Act (“Act“) have associated guidelines. Guidelines are intended to assist with providing ways of complying with the legislation, not to provide exclusive interpretations. Guidelines generally provide information on administrative matters and on technical matters not already addressed by policy. Periodically, guidelines are updated…
Read MoreGovernment takes further action on workplace safety
Amendments to the Workers Compensation Act were introduced in the House on October 8th. With the introduction of Bill 35, government has taken decisive action to address the Lakeland and Babine coroner’s inquest recommendations that were directed to the Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Responsible for Labour. According to the government’s…
Read MoreKen Farey Honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award
On September 30th, 2015, Grant McMillan, former President, thanked Ken Farey on behalf of COCA for his many years of contributions as the Chair of COCA over 17 years. Then, with incoming Chair Wayne Fettback, Ken was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The COCA Board also made Ken an Honorary Board Member.
Consultation on proposed changes to OHS Penalty Policies
October 2, 2015 Dear Stakeholder: WorkSafeBCs Board of Directors has approved the release for consultation of a discussion paper regarding proposed changes to the following policies regarding Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Penalties: Criteria for Imposing OHS Penalties (D12-196-1) Transfer of OHS History (D12-196-3) OHS Penalty Amounts (D12-196-6) Claims Cost Levies (D24-73-1) First Aid Equipment…
Read More2015 Bridging the Gap Conference
November 13 and 14, 2015 ~ Richmond, BC Whether you work in construction or promote health and safety in the industry, join us for a jam-packed two-day conference to network with others and increase your knowledge about a wide range of health and safety issues in construction. For more information and to register, visit the…
Read MoreSeptember 2015 Guideline Updates
Many sections of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation and Workers Compensation Act (“Act“) have associated guidelines. Guidelines are intended to assist with providing ways of complying with the legislation, not to provide exclusive interpretations. Guidelines generally provide information on administrative matters and on technical matters not already addressed by policy. Periodically, guidelines are updated…
Read MoreSeptember 2015 Policy Updates
The Prevention Manual contains policies of WorkSafeBC with respect to prevention matters under the Workers Compensation Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. Consequential policy amendments have been made to the Prevention Manual in response to changes to provisions in the Occupational Heath and Safety Regulation. The Prevention Manual (1 mb) is provided here…
Read MoreSeptember 2015 Regulatory Amendments
Amendments to the Workers Compensation Act were made in September 2015 . The online Regulation and excerpts and summaries of the Act are updated once the amendments come into effect. Part 1 Division 6 – Workers’ Compensation Board Section 81 Board of directors [Amended] Part 3 Division 12 – Enforcement Section 186.1 Compliance agreements [Enacted]